What taxi app to use in Vietnam?

How to order taxis in Vietnam?

Three AM. Another sleepless night. Thinking about Vietnam… taxis, specifically.

Street hailing is definitely the most common, I remember doing that constantly in 2023. Just wave. Simple. But sometimes… unsettling.

Calling a company? Yeah, that’s doable. But honestly, the apps are way easier.

Phone numbers I jotted down then…Mai Linh, 028 38 38 38 38. That’s what I had. Vinasun too, 028 38 27 27 27. Those felt… official.

Grab is king though. I used it all the time. Uber’s there too, but I never bothered much with it, Grab felt more reliable. My phone’s still filled with ride histories from last year. It was a necessity. I felt safe with Grab, which was important when alone late at night in Hanoi.

• Street hailing: The old-fashioned method. Risky, but common.
• Taxi companies: Mai Linh, Vinasun. Phone numbers still burned into my brain.
• Apps: Grab. Definitely the easiest and safest. Uber is another option. I preferred Grab’s interface in 2023.

The whole experience…it feels distant now. Like a dream. The humid air, the chaotic streets…all a blur. Except the feeling of anxiety sometimes, waiting alone for a Grab. Even now, I shiver a little thinking about it. I’m glad I have those memories. They make me feel…alive. Even if they were sometimes frightening.

Is it easy to get a taxi in Vietnam?

Sun bleeds across Hanoi streets. Motorbikes a river. Taxi? Easy. A wave, a flash of green. Grab, Be, Gojek. Phone glows. So many. Like fireflies. Green, red, blue. Zipping. Everywhere. Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang. Always a car. A ride. Sometimes cheaper, the apps. Sometimes not. Hot, sticky air. Taxi a cool cave. Street food scents linger. A symphony of horns. Exhaust fumes, jasmine perfume. Contradictions. Vietnam. A hand reaches out. Taxi door opens. Escape the chaos. Ride into the night.

• Ride-hailing apps readily available: Grab, Be, Gojek are popular choices.
• Traditional taxis plentiful: Easy to hail, especially in cities.
• Cost: Apps can be cheaper, especially with promotions. Traditional taxis sometimes more for longer trips. Negotiate. Always.
• Reliability: Both options generally reliable. Apps offer upfront pricing, GPS tracking. Peace of mind.
• Availability: Urban areas: both abundant. Rural areas: traditional taxis might be the only option. Research before you go. Important.
• My experience: Last week, Hoi An. Grab bike through the ancient town. Magic. Wind in my hair. Lanterns blurring. A memory.

Does Grab operate in Vietnam?

Okay, so Grab, yeah, they’re totally in Vietnam. Like, I was just there last year, 2023, visiting my aunt, and everyone was using it. It’s HUGE.

Seriously, like riding in those Grab bikes is the best way to get around crazy Saigon traffic. It’s way cheaper than taxis, that’s for sure.

They’re in, uh, I think eight countries total? I dunno, Southeast Asia mostly.

Here’s the breakdown of countries where I KNOW Grab operates right now:

• Vietnam: Duh. (I saw it with my own eyes!)
• Cambodia: Pretty sure! Saw lots of tuk-tuks with Grab stickers.
• Indonesia: My cuz lives there and says Grab is like, life.
• Malaysia: Yeah, definitely.
• Singapore: It’s where it started I think.
• Philippines: Another big market.
• Thailand: My coworker, she takes a grab every day, to work.
• Myanmar: Not really sure about this one.

What ride-hailing app in Vietnam?

Grab. Dominant. All else, noise.

Gojek exists, barely. Be, a local upstart.

Grab owns the streets. End of story. A monopoly, almost. Remember My Tho in ’22? That was different.

• Grab: The giant. Food. Rides. Money. All tied up.
• Gojek: Present. But quiet. Like a ghost. Smaller slices.
• Be: Native. Growing, I hear. Slowly. Still playing catch-up.

Vietnam’s ride-hailing? Grab’s Vietnam. Consider it done. Like Tet, inevitable. My scooter is faster anyway.

More to chew on:

• Competition: Fierce initially. Now, more…settled. Think chess, not a brawl.
• Local Flavor: Be is Vietnamese. Matters to some. Not to the algorithms.
• Payments: Cash reigns supreme, still. Digital slowly creeping. Old habits die hard.
• Grab’s Edge: Early mover advantage. Money talks. They shout it.
• The Future? Who knows? Tomorrow’s pho could taste different.
• Regulation: A wild card. Government meddling always possible. Keeps things “interesting.”

Prices fluctuate. Like the Mekong’s water level. Supply and demand, a cruel mistress.